Chapter 1

Introduction to Multimedia

We will define multimedia in to two perspective

1) In terms of what multimedia is all about.
2) Based on the word ”Multimedia"

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 1) In terms of what multimedia is all about.

It refers to the storage, transmission, representation, presentation and perception of

different information types (data types) such as text, graphics, voice, audio and video.

 Storage- refers to the type of physical means to store data.

Magnetic tape
Hard disk
Optical disk
DVDs
CD-ROMs, etc.
 Presentation- refers to the type of physical means to reproduce information to the user.
Speakers
Video windows, etc.

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 Cont’d
 Representation- related to how information is described in an abstract form for use
within an electronic system. E.g. to present text to the user, the text can be coded in
raster graphics, primitive graphics, or simple ASCII characters. The same
presentation, different representation.
 Perception- describes the nature of information as perceived by the user
 Speech
 Music
 Film

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 Generalized MM Info Flow

 MM info flow

Real world

Interchange
system Output and Input User
Transmission or Digitized object Systems
storage

Interchange Media
Transmission or storage Representation Media Presentation Media Perception Media

4
 What is Multimedia?
 Derived from the word “Multi” and “Media”
 Multi
▪ Many, Multiple,
 Media
▪ Tools that is used to represent or do a certain things, delivery medium, a form
of mass communication – newspaper, tv.
▪ Distribution tool & information presentation – text, graphic, voice, images,
music and etc.

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 Definition of Multimedia
 Multimedia is a combination of text, graphic, sound,
animation, and video that is delivered interactively to the
user by electronic or digitally manipulated means.

GRAPHIC
TEXT

VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

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 General and working definition of MM
 Multimedia is the field concerned with the computer controlled integration of text,
graphics, drawings, still and moving images (video), animation, and any other media
where every type of information can be represented, stored, transmitted, and
processed digitally.

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 Elements of Multimedia
GRAPHIC
TEXT

TEXT
VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

 A broad term for something that contains words to express something.

 Text is the most basic element of multimedia.
 A good choice of words could help convey the intended message to the users
(keywords).
 Used in contents, menus, navigational buttons

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 Elements of Multimedia
GRAPHIC
TEXT

TEXT
VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

 Example

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 Elements of Multimedia
GRAPHIC
TEXT

GRAPHIC
VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

 Two-dimensional figure or illustration

 Could be produced manually (by drawing, painting, carving, etc.) or by computer
graphics technology.
 Used in multimedia to show more clearly what a particular information is all about
(diagrams, picture).

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 Elements of Multimedia
GRAPHIC
TEXT

GRAPHIC
VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

 Example

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 Elements of Multimedia
GRAPHIC
TEXT

AUDIO
VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

 Produced by vibration, as perceived by the sense of hearing.

 In multimedia, audio could come in the form of speech, sound effects and also music
score.

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 Elements of Multimedia
GRAPHIC
TEXT

AUDIO
VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

 Example

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 Elements of Multimedia
GRAPHIC
TEXT

ANIMATION
VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

 The illusion of motion created by the consecutive display of images of static

elements.
 In multimedia, animation is used to further enhance / enriched the experience of
the user to further understand the information conveyed to them.

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 Elements of Multimedia
GRAPHIC
TEXT

ANIMATION
VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

 Example

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 Elements of Multimedia
GRAPHIC
TEXT

VIDEO
VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

 Is the technology of capturing, recording, processing, transmitting, and

reconstructing moving pictures.
 Video is more towards photo realistic image sequence / live recording as in
comparison to animation.
 Video also takes a lot of storage space. So plan carefully before you are going to use
it.

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 What is Multimedia system?

 A Multimedia System is a system capable of processing multimedia

data.
 A Multimedia System is characterized by the processing, storage,
generation, manipulation and rendition of multimedia information.

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Characteristics of a Multimedia System

 A Multimedia system has four basic characteristics:

Multimedia systems must be computer controlled
Multimedia systems are integrated
The information they handle must be represented digitally
The interface to the final presentation of media is usually interactive

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 History of Multimedia Systems
 Newspaper was perhaps the first mass communication medium, which used mostly
text, graphics, and images.
 In 1895, Gugliemo Marconi sent his first wireless radio transmission at Pontecchio,
Italy.
 A few years later (in 1901), he detected radio waves beamed across the Atlantic.
Initially invented for telegraph,
 radio is now a major medium for audio broadcasting.
 Television was the new media for the 20th century. It brings the video and has since
changed the world of mass communications.

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On computers, the following are some of the
important events:
 1945 -Vannevar Bush (1890-1974) wrote about Memex.
 MEMEX stands for MEMory EXtension. A memex is a device in which an
individual stores all his books, records, and communications and which is
mechanized so that it may be consulted with exceeding speed and flexibility. It is an
enlarged intimate supplement to his memory.

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History of Multimedia Systems
 1960s-Ted Nelson started Xanadu project (Xanadu – a kind of deep Hypertext).
 1967 - Nicholas Negroponte formed the Architecture Machine Group at MIT.
 1968 - Douglas Engelbart demonstrated NLS (Online Systems) system at SRI.
 1969 - Nelson & Van Dam hypertext editor at Brown
 1976 - Architecture Machine Group proposal to DARPA: Multiple Media
 1985 - Negroponte, Wiesner: opened MIT Media Lab
 1989 - Tim Berners-Lee proposed the World Wide Web to CERN (European Council
for Nuclear Research)
 1990 - K. Hooper Woolsey, Apple Multimedia Lab gave education to 100 people

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History of Multimedia Systems
 1992 - The first M-Bone audio multicast on the net (MBONE- Multicast
Backbone)
 1993 – U. Illinois National Center for Supercomputing Applications introduced
NCSA Mosaic (a web browser)
 1994 - Jim Clark and Marc Andersen introduced Netscape Navigator (web
browser)
 1995 - Java for platform-independent application development.

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 What is Hypertext and Hypermedia?
 Hypertext is a text, which contains links to other texts. The term was
invented by Ted Nelson around 1965. Hypertext is usually non-
linear.
 Hypermedia is not constrained to be text-based. It can include other
media, e.g., graphics, images, and especially the continuous media
sound and video.
 Apparently, Ted Nelson was also the first to use this term.
 Hypermedia is the application of hypertext principles to a wider
variety of media

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 Hyper Media
 Examples of Hypermedia Applications:
▪ The World Wide Web (WWW) is the best example of hypermedia applications.
▪ PowerPoint
▪ Adobe Acrobat
▪ Macromedia Director
 When the user is given the option of controlling the elements.

 A combination of hypertext, graphics, audio, video, (linked elements)

and interactivity culminating in a complete, non-linear computer-based
experience.

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 Example
 Hyper Media
Main Page
1. Video link
2. Image link
3. Audio Link

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 Linear VS Non-Linear

LINEAR
 A Multimedia Project is identified as Linear when:
 It is not interactive
 User have no control over the content that is being showed to them.
 Example:
 A movie
 A non-interactive lecture / demo show

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 Linear VS Non-Linear
NON-LINEAR
 A Multimedia Project is identified as Non-Linear when:
 It is interactive
 Users have control over the content that is being showed to them.
 Users are given navigational control
 Example:
 Games
 YouTube
 Courseware
 Interactive CD

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Desirable Features for a Multimedia System

1. Very high processing speed processing power.

2. It should support different file formats.
3. Efficient and High Input-output
4. Special Operating System
5. Storage and Memory
6. Network Support
7. Software Tools
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 Challenges of Multimedia Systems

1. Synchronization issue:
2. Data conversion
3. Compression and decompression

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 What is Multimedia Application?

 A Multimedia Application is an application which uses a collection of

multiple media sources e.g. text, graphics, images, sound/audio,
animation and video.

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 Multimedia Applications (where it is applied)

 Digital video editing and production systems

 Home shopping
 Interactive movies, and TV
 Multimedia courseware
 Video conferencing
 Virtual reality (the creation of artificial environment that you can explore, e.g. 3-D images, etc)
 Distributed lectures for higher education
 Tele-medicine
 Digital libraries
 World Wide Web
 On-line reference works e.g. encyclopedias, etc.
 Electronic Newspapers/Magazines
 Games
 Groupware (enabling groups of people to collaborate on projects and share information)

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 World Wide Web (WWW)

 Multimedia is closely tied to the World Wide Web (WWW).

 Without networks, multimedia is limited to simply displaying images,
videos, and sounds on your local machine.
 The true power of multimedia is the ability to deliver this rich content to
a large audience.

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 Importance of Multimedia

 There are a number of fields where multimedia could be of use.

Examples are:-
 Business
 Education
 Entertainment
 Home
 Public Places

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 Importance of Multimedia

 Business
 Use and Applications
▪ Sales / Marketing Presentation
▪ Trade show production
▪ Staff Training Application
▪ Company Kiosk

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 Importance of Multimedia

 Education
 Use and Applications
▪ Courseware / Simulations
▪ E-Learning / Distance Learning
▪ Information Searching

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 Importance of Multimedia

 Entertainment
 Use and Applications
▪ Games (Leisure / Educational)
▪ Movies
▪ Video on Demand
▪ Online

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 Importance of Multimedia

 Home
 Use and Applications
▪ Television
▪ Satellite TV
▪ SMS services (chats, voting, reality TV)

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 Importance of Multimedia

 Public Places
 Use and Applications
▪ Information Kiosk
▪ Smart Cards, Security

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Thank you!